Animals and Institutions

This course explores animals within the context of the functional relationships that sociologists call “institutions.” We first examine the use of animals in laboratory science. We then examine the controversial transformation of animals into “livestock” and "meat." We also explore the perspectives of people committed to rejecting the construction and use of animals as food. Next, we focus on some of the roles of animals in human entertainment with particular attention to dog fighting and zoos.

• Describe the status of animals used in research
• Identify trends leading to modern industrial livestock production
• Assess appropriate roles of zoos in modern society
• Identify challenges faced by veterinarians and animal shelter workers